At a recent workshop I was reminded (once again) that many of us don’t celebrate our accomplishments. Not just that we don’t celebrate them, we even have a hard time thinking of what they are. We work diligently to achieve specific goals and then when we arrive at our destination we think, NEXT!
I attribute the NEXT SYNDROME to a few things:
♦ We get close to our goal, realize the potential and raise the bar. The original goal is no longer
the goal. (I’m guilty of this) NEXT!
♦ Once we reach our goal we forget the effort it took for us to get there. There is no longer value
placed in the effort. NEXT!
♦ We compare ourselves to others and see them doing more. This small achievement no longer
holds importance. NEXT!
♦ Growing up we were told that it wasn’t polite to brag or boast about our accomplishments.
Patting ourselves on the back might give us a big head. NEXT!
Shifting Your Mindset
When you do not celebrate an achievement, big or small, you are cheating yourself big time. Not allowing yourself the full experience of celebrating something that has significance holds you small along with the message you deliver about your brand. By the way – it doesn’t matter if others have done it before you. It can still be a big deal for you!
For instance: we all have milestone birthdays though few of us throw ourselves a party. Thinking maybe that it’s egotistical? I have a very good friend who chose to celebrate a recent milestone birthday by throwing herself a party. Because I had never considered this myself, I wanted to know why. She explained it was simply her way of saying thank you to her friends for being there to support her throughout her life.
Hmmm…that didn’t sound egotistical to me at all. Actually, the party was great fun and it shifted my way of thinking.
The other consideration to be mindful of when you don’t celebrate is the fact that you are cheating the people in your life who love you and want to support you.
For instance: a colleague recently had a book launch for her second book. When we met for breakfast a few weeks later we talked about the festive occasion. She confessed that originally she had no intention of having a party. Her sister however, expressed feeling cheated by not being able to honor her in a bigger way; so she changed her mind. By having the book launch my colleague experienced the joy in celebrating with loved ones and it shifted her thinking.
It doesn’t need to be big, but it is important to acknowledge your successes and allow your loved ones to share with you.
You can celebrate passing a course you took by dressing up and going to dinner with friends. You can celebrate losing those last ten pounds by getting friends together for a spa day or a game of golf.
Play Bigger in Life
Think about when you celebrate on your own and how that feels. Now think about when you celebrate with a group of people that care about you and want the best for you. How does that feel?
Celebrating raises your energy and builds enthusiasm for you and your brand. Celebrating feels good and encourages you and those that support you to play bigger in life.
This is not a “me, me, me” thing! It is an inclusive event that helps create a bigger picture for you and those who know you. You would always encourage a friend not to overlook something that is meaningful to them. Make sure to treat yourself like a friend.
Whether the accomplishment is big or small, it doesn't matter. Celebrate! Feel good and pass it on!
Align yourself with what matters most to you. Live your brand fully expressed with intention and purpose to play bigger!
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